COVID In-person Update

Basic Safety Standards for Meeting In-person

Effective October 30, 2024

These safety standards must be followed for all in-person 4-H activities.
These protocols apply to all 4-H events that 4-H has responsibility, management, and control of.
Host locations may have additional requirements.

Click to download Basic Safety Standards infographic

Basic Safety Standards

Symptom Monitoring

Employees, volunteers and program participants must monitor themselves for symptoms related to COVID-19.

Symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Stay home when:

• You have symptoms related to COVID-19
• You are diagnosed or tested positive for COVID-19
• Public health guidance advises you to quarantine

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you may attend in-person activities when ALL of the following is true:

1. It's been more 24 hours since your symptoms started;
2. You have no fever (without using fever-reducing medications);
3. Your symptoms are mild and improving.

Masks

Masks aren’t usually required, but it’s a good idea to wear one in places where a lot of people are getting sick.

• Masks are optional sign
• Masks are recommended signs - 3 signs, PDF - Tip: Adjust print settings to "Adjust to fit" to print on 8.5x11 paper.

Masks are required:

• if a local public health order or facility requires them.
• You have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 within a 10 day period.

Masks are required for at least 10 days while you are recovering from COVID-19. If you have two negative tests from different days you may remove the masks sooner than 10 days.

Mask Exceptions and Exemptions

If you have an illness or condition that limits your ability to wear a face mask, you may request an accommodation or alternate masking options (i.e., face shield with drape). You can also request to participate remotely.

Communication

• Maintain an Attendance Log, in case it is necessary to send an exposure notice.
• If you or someone you live with tests positive for COVID-19 with 24 hours of attending a meeting or event, let the leader/coordinator know as soon as possible (within 24 hours).
• The leader/coordinator will contact UC ANR Risk & Safety to review the details and assess possible exposures.
• UC ANR will make its best efforts to communicate relevant information based on public health guidance.

Hygiene and Cleaning

• Encourage everyone to wash hands frequently with soap and water and/or use hand sanitizer.
• When planning a meeting, make sure you have access to hand washing facilities, a supply of hand sanitizer, masks, cleaning materials, etc.
• Frequently clean high-touch surfaces, equipment, and shared materials.

Facilities

• If the transmission rate is high in your area, we encourage you to hold activities outdoors as much as possible.
• To create a safer indoor environment, open windows and doors. Place fans with airflow going out the window.
• Use air purifying filters, if available.

Food Service

• Food service is no longer limited to single use items or packaged meals.
• When meals are prepared and served, at least one 4-H volunteer or 4-H professional serving food at the event must complete the ServSafe training. This does not apply to snacks or pre-packaged food items served at 4-H meetings or activities.
• The ServSafe certified 4-H volunteer or 4-H professional can train additional food servers using the Clover Safe Note: Food Safety at 4-H Meetings

COVID Testing

Proof of a negative COVID test is not a requirement to participate in a 4-H activity.

Protocols for confirming proof of a negative COVID test

Certain host location may require proof of a negative COVID test. If the COVID testing is required, please coordinate with UC ANR Risk & Safety Services for further guidance.

Maintaining individual privacy and confidentiality is a primary concern.

COVID Vaccination Status

4-H does not require proof of vaccination for the events we host, manage and control. It is not necessary to inquire about anyone's vaccination status to participate in camp or overnight 4-H events.

If a host location requires proof of vaccination, the following protocols must be followed.

Protocols for Confirming COVID Vaccination Status

1. Vaccination status will be kept confidential. Access to information will be limited to Nurse/Health Supervisor, Location/Camp Director, and necessary UC ANR staff
2. Once vaccination information is reviewed and documented, all uploaded vaccination information will be eliminated from the registration files for the event.

Additional information and guidance can be found at Risk-Based Guidance for Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination or Negative Test for UC ANR Events/Activities

Updated October 30, 2024

Protocols for Overnight 4-H Activities

In addition to the protocols listed in the Basic Safety Standards, please see the Overnight 4-H Event Safety Protocols for details on sleeping, activities, and bathroom accommodations.

Preparing for an Overnight Event/Camp

CA 4-H Camp COVID Preparedness Checklist

Proof of a negative COVID test is not a requirement to attend camp or an overnight 4-H activity.

The following steps should be implemented before an overnight 4-H event/camp:

• Starting the week prior to the start of the event/camp, participants (and their parents/guardians), teen staff, and adult volunteers are advised to daily screen themselves for symptoms that are new or not caused by a known or existing condition.

Symptoms include: Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea. For more information about symptoms, see the CDC Symptoms of COVID-19.

• If a person tests positive or has symptoms within 5-10 days prior to the start of the event/camp, advise them not to attend. See the ACA document “A Healthy Camp Begins at Home” PDF.
• The health supervisor will screen all persons attending the event/camp for symptoms of COVID-19 or other transmissible illness.

Vaccination Policy

Proof of vaccination is NOT required for 4-H youth or adult volunteers to join or participate in 4-H.

Host locations for 4-H sponsored activities may require proof of vaccination. Please follow the protocols outlined in the Basic Safety Standards.

Vaccine Status Request from Partners

As part of the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, many of our partner organizations and schools may require that visitors to their sites must be vaccinated.

Instructions for UC ANR employees

If you receive a request to provide vaccination status for yourself or any UC ANR employee/affiliate to a partner organization (such as a school or community organization), please notify your Unit Director.

The Unit Director will consolidate requests from each partner organization and send the name of the partner organization and names of employees working on the partner site in an email to UC ANR Risk & Safety Services and Human Resources.

Typically, we will provide a letter to the partner agency that verifies ANR employees are compliant with the UC policy and, consequently, with their own local policies.

In cases where more than the letter is required, we may reach out to the Unit Director for additional information to develop alternative solutions.